Morocco is brimming with pride following the impressive performance of its national team during the 2026 World Cup, with hopes set high for the upcoming 2030 World Cup. The nation anticipates not only a strong showing but also a greater representation of players from its domestic leagues. The Moroccan footballing landscape is undergoing significant transformations, with extensive efforts being made to elevate its status on the world stage.
The **2026 World Cup**, a historic event held across three nations— the United States, Mexico, and Canada— culminated with Spain being crowned the best team in the world, forever altering the perceptions of both football and the World Cup. In light of Spain's achievement, King Mohammed VI of Morocco extended his warm congratulations to his counterpart, King Felipe VI, describing the Spanish victory as a "great achievement." Morocco will co-host the **2030 World Cup** alongside Spain and Portugal, with many details still pending clarification.
Analyzing Morocco's World Cup Journey
In a detailed analysis of Morocco's journey in the recent World Cup and its outlook for 2030, we spoke with **Karim Prim**, a Ceutí who leads the International Academy of SC Braga in Morocco. Prim has previously worked with Cádiz CF in Africa and currently serves as an advisor for both women's football and futsal leagues in Morocco. He is also involved in organizing the ongoing Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Reflecting on the Moroccan national team's performance in 2026, Prim remarked, "Expectations were high, with aspirations to reach at least the semifinals. However, people were aware of the formidable potential of France and recognized the limitations of a relatively young Moroccan squad, which has recently seen new additions. While the expectations were lofty, I believe the objective has been more than achieved given the team's progress."
Looking ahead to the **2030 World Cup**, Prim highlighted the primary goal of Morocco as the professionalization of its domestic league, **Botola Pro**. He noted that during the World Cup, it became evident that 98% of the national team's players were sourced from European or foreign clubs, indicating a significant gap in the development of local talent. The Moroccan Football Federation has recognized this issue and is committed to implementing support and funding aimed at professionalizing Moroccan football, aspiring to create a setup akin to Spain's LaLiga, which effectively manages image, advertising, and broadcasting rights.
Morocco's Ambitions for Hosting the Final
One of the burning questions surrounding the 2030 World Cup is whether Morocco can host the final. Prim is optimistic, stating, "There are aspirations to secure the final. We hope that the decision does not go to a vote, as it is clear that Morocco deserves to be awarded this opportunity due to the remarkable diplomatic efforts made in recent years. There has been a stagnation in Spain regarding preparations for the World Cup, with minimal engagement from the Spanish Football Federation since the leadership change. The focus seems to be solely on the final, yet the preparations for the World Cup in Spain are not being conducted as they should be."
On the topic of infrastructure, Prim emphasized that Morocco is taking decisive action beyond merely constructing stadiums. He explained, "Morocco has a clear state decision that drives execution. In contrast, Spain faces complications due to dealing with local municipalities and various governance levels, which complicates the process. For instance, the construction of the Grand Casablanca Stadium commenced ten months ago and is already 70% complete."
When discussing potential venues for the final, Prim stated, "The focus should first be on ensuring that the final is held in Spain, which is paramount. After that, we can debate whether it will take place at the Bernabéu or the new Camp Nou. However, we cannot overlook the poor experience during this year's Copa del Rey at **La Cartuja**, which left much to be desired, especially in terms of transportation. Morocco is already working on logistics, including train and shuttle bus services to stadiums, highlighting a contrast to Spain's current state of preparedness. The withdrawal of **Málaga** is particularly detrimental, as it was an ideal location for international teams."
Shifting focus, Prim also expressed optimism regarding the Moroccan women's national team, which recently lost in the Africa Cup final to Nigeria. He noted, "This year, playing on home soil, they should aim for the cup. We hope that coach Jorge Vilda achieves this goal. He has been well-received here and has assembled a strong team, with 90% of the players coming from the Moroccan league."
As reported by estadiodeportivo.com.
